|
|
Post by rmc on Nov 29, 2020 22:09:55 GMT
My mom had just enough to file the request in the first place courtesy of a smattering of military records she found cleaning her mother's house out after her mother was placed in a nursing home (grandma had Alzheimer's and so could no longer take care of herself). That's when the National Archives got back to her with the explanation that his records were among those lost and that what we were getting was what little they could find as his files were among the ones affected. But yeah - about the fire: www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973In 1973, a fire ripped through an archives facility in St. Louis, Missouri. It took local firefighters two days to put it out, during which at least one pumper truck broke down after 40 hours of continuous use. It's estimated that well over 75% of the documents kept in the building were lost during this, either consumed in the fire or destroyed during the containment effort. The National Archives confirmed that his records were among the ones that had been stored at the facility during the fire, and what we got was all that they were able to salvage. Okay. It's still sounds as though you don't have the exact particulars about what specific information was used to extract the records that you got from the archives. And, that's okay. This leaves open the ultra small possibility that, basically, not enough information was given to them to find the whole file, and they knew that the fire likely wiped out the records anyway, so they didn't bother trying to locate the "201 file" (the enlistment and service records which probably requires unit information to easily find), and, instead, just found the medical records, which, oddly enough, are not housed with the 201 file since, well, medical records have a completely different modus operandi. It could still be possible to resubmit a request for records (using the online portal when Covid 19 is over basically) this time supplying a branch and unit chosen from the information we've come up with. Would need to choose one unit and one branch though. Otherwise you end up doing it more than once, and even though that might be okay for you the searchers at the archives might not appreciate that. I don't know. OH!! And... Look in the medical records for anything about "jump status" any sort of separate record seeming to zero in on seeking better than normal cardiovascular conditions, blood pressure and/or if he was checked for having osteoporosis or any other bone related diseases. It could indicate screening for parachute training. section #9 in the following link: history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/PrsnlHlthMsrs/chapter1.htm |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Nov 29, 2020 23:45:36 GMT
Without his unit understood, how did you complete the request form for them to respond with "his was in a fire"? The online form I looked at requires his name, date of birth, branch and unit, stuff like that. I mean, I believe you because I have never looked up another veteran or even myself for that matter so I don't know all the particulars to be certain, but having the branch and unit at least LOOKED required from what I saw, you know? The search process must have some sort of wiggle room for when you don't actually have the unit or what-have-you. Is that right? My mom had just enough to file the request in the first place courtesy of a smattering of military records she found cleaning her mother's house out after her mother was placed in a nursing home (grandma had Alzheimer's and so could no longer take care of herself). That's when the National Archives got back to her with the explanation that his records were among those lost and that what we were getting was what little they could find as his files were among the ones affected. But yeah - about the fire: www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973In 1973, a fire ripped through an archives facility in St. Louis, Missouri. It took local firefighters two days to put it out, during which at least one pumper truck broke down after 40 hours of continuous use. It's estimated that well over 75% of the documents kept in the building were lost during this, either consumed in the fire or destroyed during the containment effort. The National Archives confirmed that his records were among the ones that had been stored at the facility during the fire, and what we got was all that they were able to salvage. having run 1970s fire engines, I'm pretty impressed that they could have one running for 40 hours straight before it had a malfunction that shut it down. we were having malfunctions on ours during the wildfire and we weren't running them continuously. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Nov 29, 2020 23:47:56 GMT
My mom had just enough to file the request in the first place courtesy of a smattering of military records she found cleaning her mother's house out after her mother was placed in a nursing home (grandma had Alzheimer's and so could no longer take care of herself). That's when the National Archives got back to her with the explanation that his records were among those lost and that what we were getting was what little they could find as his files were among the ones affected. But yeah - about the fire: www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973In 1973, a fire ripped through an archives facility in St. Louis, Missouri. It took local firefighters two days to put it out, during which at least one pumper truck broke down after 40 hours of continuous use. It's estimated that well over 75% of the documents kept in the building were lost during this, either consumed in the fire or destroyed during the containment effort. The National Archives confirmed that his records were among the ones that had been stored at the facility during the fire, and what we got was all that they were able to salvage. Okay. It's still sounds as though you don't have the exact particulars about what specific information was used to extract the records that you got from the archives. And, that's okay. This leaves open the ultra small possibility that, basically, not enough information was given to them to find the whole file, and they knew that the fire likely wiped out the records anyway, so they didn't bother trying to locate the "201 file" (the enlistment and service records which probably requires unit information to easily find), and, instead, just found the medical records, which, oddly enough, are not housed with the 201 file since, well, medical records have a completely different modus operandi. It could still be possible to resubmit a request for records (using the online portal when Covid 19 is over basically) this time supplying a branch and unit chosen from the information we've come up with. Would need to choose one unit and one branch though. Otherwise you end up doing it more than once, and even though that might be okay for you the searchers at the archives might not appreciate that. I don't know. OH!! And... Look in the medical records for anything about "jump status" any sort of separate record seeming to zero in on seeking better than normal cardiovascular conditions, blood pressure and/or if he was checked for having osteoporosis or any other bone related diseases. It could indicate screening for parachute training. section #9 in the following link: history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/PrsnlHlthMsrs/chapter1.htmalso possible the medical file was not in the building that caught fire, and the 201 file was. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Nov 30, 2020 0:02:13 GMT
Right. That's basically what I meant.
But the key thing here (and this is important) these sorts of offices (archives, court houses, veterans affairs types) are FAMOUS for coming up short if they see that not every "i" was dotted, "t" was crossed, so to speak.
Next time, if every entry field is filled out appropriately, they just might find the history files you're looking for... maybe.
But, like I say, you need to gamble and pick a unit and branch (either Army, or Army Air Corps, apparently... for branch. And, I don't know what to tell you for a unit. There are way too many units to pick from that it just about makes no sense that he was in them all.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Cybermortis on Nov 30, 2020 0:52:08 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ironhold on Dec 26, 2020 22:37:11 GMT
 One more if I could, please. This is a logo on a plaque my mom's dad received. We know it's some sort of unit logo, but aren't sure what it represents. Thanks. edit - In case it's not clear, it's a white letter "A" on a blue field surrounded by red circles. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on Dec 27, 2020 0:08:12 GMT
View AttachmentOne more if I could, please. This is a logo on a plaque my mom's dad received. We know it's some sort of unit logo, but aren't sure what it represents. Thanks. edit - In case it's not clear, it's a white letter "A" on a blue field surrounded by red circles. military vehicles have markings to identify which unit they belong to. those markings tended to be clear and simple for easy interpretation. |
|
|
|
Post by rmc on Dec 27, 2020 12:20:01 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by ironhold on Dec 27, 2020 14:37:30 GMT
|
|
